On the Red Carpet With John Turturro and Filmmakers at the Hamptons International Film Festival

EAST HAMPTON, NY – My final day covering the 2026 Hamptons International Film Festival brought me to the White Room Gallery for press interviews with filmmakers presenting a range of personal and imaginative stories. Later, I caught up with my former high school classmate John Turturro and director Noah Segan on the red carpet for their film, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.

From family relationships and artistic ambition to the boutique fitness boom, the films represented in my interviews offered plenty to explore. Several also placed the Hamptons at the center of their stories, reflecting the East End’s enduring connection to artists and independent filmmaking.

Conversations at the White Room Gallery

Among the filmmakers I interviewed was Katie Colwell, director of Being Here. Her short follows Valerie as she navigates one last boat day with her sister before leaving for Brooklyn. Its premise captures the complicated emotions that can accompany a departure, even within an otherwise familiar family outing.

I also spoke with Jake Silbermann and Erica Pappas about Barbizon, a feature rooted in the Hamptons. Pappas plays Rhonda, a 28-year-old who accepts a summer job teaching chess to the children of wealthy families. As she forms new friendships and discovers the region’s creative community, she begins questioning her relationship back in the city and her future as an artist.

Silbermann, the film’s writer and director, drew on his own memories of working as a chess instructor in the Hamptons. That personal connection gives the story a local foundation while exploring questions about ambition, belonging and choosing a direction in life.

Creative ambition also takes center stage in Matthew Puccini’s Callback. I interviewed Puccini about his short, in which Max comes home to discover that his boyfriend, Will, has received a callback for a major acting role. Jealousy turns into an unusual competition when the couple hires their teenage neighbor to judge their acting abilities.

Another of my interview subjects, director Hunter Gause, brought Pentimento to the festival. Set around an errand to the Hamptons, the film follows an artist’s assistant whose embarrassing mistake forces him to confront his creative stagnation.

Stories of Loss and Family Connection

My interviews also included YuHan Tsai, director of Dua Ji. Set in rural Taiwan during a mother’s funeral, the film follows an eldest daughter navigating grief, resentment and the expectations of tradition. It approaches loss through the responsibilities and emotions that family members do not always express openly.

Moroccan filmmaker Meriem Sakrouhi explores another deeply personal experience in Mon Taxi. For years, calling her father was a daily ritual. After his death, the impulse to reach him remains, leading her to make a call that becomes the starting point for the film.

Although these stories emerge from different places and circumstances, both examine the ways a relationship continues to shape someone after a loved one is gone.

Finding a New Chapter in Not Dead Yet

I spoke with directors Eric Weber and Nick Weber about Not Dead Yet, which stars Richard Kind as veteran advertising professional Elliot Kelman.

Forced out of his New York City agency by a culture focused on youth, Elliot retreats to the Hamptons with his wife. Rather than accept being pushed aside, he joins a group of rebellious older adults to launch a business by seniors, for seniors, while developing an unlikely advertising campaign.

With a cast that includes Paul Raci and Tovah Feldshuh, the film explores reinvention and the value of experience. Its central character faces the challenge of finding a new purpose while continuing to exercise the creativity that defined his career.

Inside the World of Spin Wars

My festival conversations also included Philip Byron and Jillian A. Goldstein of Spin Wars, a documentary examining the rise of boutique indoor cycling and the competition among SoulCycle, Flywheel and Peloton.

Directed by Byron, the documentary traces SoulCycle’s beginnings in a small Manhattan studio and the expansion of spinning into a cultural phenomenon. The story includes the companies’ Hamptons locations and perspectives from spinning devotees including Heather McMahan, Mary Beth Barone and Katie Couric.

Beyond the workouts, the film examines exclusivity, rivalry and the pressures of rapid growth. It considers how businesses built around wellness and community became caught up in an increasingly competitive industry.

A Red Carpet Reunion With John Turturro

Later, I had the pleasure of catching up with my former high school classmate John Turturro, who joined director Noah Segan for a red carpet interview about The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.

Turturro stars as Harry, an old-school New York hustler who relies on his wits, connections and practiced skills to get by. But the city around him is changing. The cash and wristwatches that once made up his daily take are increasingly replaced by credit cards and cell phones.

When an unfortunate night brings cryptocurrency and a handgun into the mix, Harry finds himself in a dangerous fight for survival. The story pits his familiar resourcefulness against a digital world that operates by different rules.

Featuring Steve Buscemi and Giancarlo Esposito in its supporting cast, the Sony Pictures Classics release combines a New York crime story with a character confronting the disappearance of the world he knows.

For me, the encounter added a personal moment to a day filled with introductions and conversations. Catching up with John while covering his work was a memorable way to bring my final day at the festival to a close.

Watch My Festival Interviews

My accompanying video brings together the White Room Gallery filmmaker interviews and my red carpet conversation with John Turturro and Noah Segan.

From short films exploring intimate family moments to documentaries examining cultural trends and features rooted in the Hamptons, my final day offered a wide-ranging look at the stories filmmakers brought to this year’s festival. I invite you to watch the interviews and hear from the people behind these films.